March 28, 2005
MONDAY 28th MARCH . 2005
This EGYPTION GOOSE was at Exminster Marsh RSPB today , other birds seen at the site were as follows .
3 CETTI`S WARBLER , 2 Male REED BUNTING , 2 GREY HERON numerous LAPWING & REDSHANK & a very vocal SONG THRUSH .
March 27, 2005
SUNDAY 27th MARCH . 2005
A look at the Berry Head area in South Devon didn`t turn up much in the way of migrants with only 2 Female WHEATEAR seen & 2 CHIFFCHAFF heard singing .
Other birds seen were about 400+ GUILLEMOT , 12 FULMAR , 2 RAVEN , a PEREGRINE FALCON & a GOLDCREST .
Later on I had a BADGER cross the Starcross to Mamhead road at 10.20 pm
the first live one that I have seen for 3 years .
March 23, 2005
WEDNESDAY 23rd MARCH . 2005
A nice sunny warm day had me going for a look around at Dawlish Warren , on the sea there were 5 SLAVONIAN GREBE with one in summer plumage , 4 GREAT CRESTED GREBE , 6 COMMON SCOTER & a RAZORBILL .
On the land there were 2 Female & a Male WHEATEAR , 4 singing CHIFFCHAFF & a Male REED BUNTING .
And on the main pond a Male & Female SHOVELER & a LITTLE GREBE .
March 21, 2005
MONDAY 21st MARCH . 2005
At Bowling Green Marsh , Topsham this morning there were 60+ WIGEON , 8 PINTAIL , Single TUFTED DUCK & LITTLE GREBE & 4 STOCK DOVE on the railway bridge .
I then went up to the riverside country park at Countess Wear & saw 2 SAND MARTIN & single GREEN SANDPIPER & LITTLE EGRET .
I then walked down the canal & an angler showed me this 16 lb Pike that he had just caught .
A quick look at the Clyst Estuary at Topsham then got me 4 GREENSHANK , 3 COMMON REDSHANK & a SPOTTED REDSHANK .
SPOTTED & COMMON REDSHANK . THE CLYST ESTUARY . TOPSHAM . DEVON . 21 / 3 / 2005
March 17, 2005
THURSDAY 17th MARCH
Today there was a sign of spring in the air as I found some Butterflies with 3 BRIMSTONE in Topsham & a ORANGE TIP in Exeter .
I also had a ROE DEER stood in the middle of the road in the Ashclyst Forest near to Exeter .
March 15, 2005
TUESDAY 15th MARCH . 2005
Today on Bowling Green Marsh the best bird of the day was a winter plumaged SPOTTED REDSHANK .
Also seen were 30+ AVOCET , 3 GREENSHANK , a single BAR-TAILED GODWIT in with about 30 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT , & single LITTLE EGRET & LITTLE GREBE .
March 14, 2005
MONDAY 14th MARCH . 2005
A quick look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham didn`t turn up much today ! with the following birds seen .
3 GREY HERON
1 LITTLE EGRET
2 LITTLE GREBE
500+ WIGEON
20 + SHOVELER
1 Female POCHARD
5 CURLEW
But the birds that I went looking for Sand Martin never put in an appearance !but I dont know if they are in yet anyway .
EURASION CURLEW . BOWLING GREEN MARSH . TOPSHAM . DEVON . 14 / 3 / 2005
March 11, 2005
FRIDAY 11th MARCH . 2005
The 1st Winter GLAUCOUS GULL was again on the Otter Estuary at Budleigh Salterton & was showing very well below the hide , & this time I got the following photo`s ! that was very pleasing as I have never photographed one of these before .
An Adult & 1st Winter MEDITERRANIAN GULL , 2 PEREGRINE FALCON & a Male BULLFINCH were also seen .
March 9, 2005
WEDNESDAY 9th MARCH . 2005
I went down to Branscombe again this morning to see if the BLACK-THROATED DIVER`S had come in any closer to the shore & if possible to photographe them ! I saw 3 of them but they were still a long way out .
I also saw 2 GREAT NORTHER DIVER & 1 RED-THROATED DIVER but there was no sign of the Black Guillemot today , on the land there were 2 COMMON RAVEN & 2 GREY WAGTAIL
March 8, 2005
TUESDAY 8th MARCH . 2005
Today off of Branscombe in East Devon I saw 4 BLACK-THROATED DIVER my highest ever count of this species .
Also seen were 2 GREAT CRESTED GREBE , 1 RED-NECKED GREBE , 2 RAZORBILL & these two summer plumaged BLACK GUILLEMOT ! a great pity that they were a long way out ! but a record shot of these in Devon is better than nothing .
March 7, 2005
MONDAY 7th MARCH . 2005
Today I went down to the Otter Estuary again to see if the Glaucous Gull was there & to see if I could get a photo of it if it was , but no luck today I spent 3 hours looking for it with not a sign of it .
But I had 4 LITTLE GREBE , 2 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER , Single BULLFINCH & COMMON RAVEN & out on the cliffs these FULMAR .
SUNDAY 6th MARCH . 2005
News of a Female LESSER SCAUP at Beesands Ley in South Devon had me making the journey across the River Dart on the car ferry to see if I could see it , at first there was no sign of it but after about 20 minutes it came into view & gave good views .
There was also a Female LONG-TAILED DUCK , about 6 GADWALL , 4 POCHARD & 3 TUFTED DUCK
Also seen were a CHIFFCHAFF & a Male STONECHAT .
Later on in the afternoon I had a phone call from Brian Heasman telling me that there was a GLAUCOUS GULL on the Otter Estuary at Budleigh Salterton , so I shot off down to there & just got it before it flew down river towards the sea .
March 2, 2005
WEDNESDAY 2nd MARCH . 2005
Today had me out in the falling snow at Netherexe looking for Grey Partridge !as this used to be a good site for them , but after looking for a couple of hours I didn`t see any .
The only things I saw were winter Thrushes with 60+ FIELDFARE & 20+ REDWING , 2 COMMON BUZZARD , 1 Female BULLFINCH & a TAWNY OWL calling .
On the way back home I stopped to get this shot of the resident PEREGRINE FALCON on St Michael`s Church in Exeter .
